292 SANDPIPER. 



ash grey-brown ; the head spotted with rusty yellow ; shoulders and 

 wing coverts marked with light ferruginous crescents; above the eye 

 a white streak ; the middle upper tail coverts blackish ; the throat is 

 whitish ; neck and half the breast reddish ash grey ; belly and vent 

 white ; quills blackish, paler within ; the first with a white shaft, 

 the second and third with yellowish ends, and the bases white ; 

 second quills nearly as long as the prime ones, and sharp at the ends ; 

 the greater wing coverts white at the points : the tail consists of 

 twelve pointed feathers, cuneiform, the outer white, the next the 

 same, but towards the base reddish green ; the four middle ones 

 blackish. The female is somewhat larger, and paler above; head 

 and neck inclining to ash-grey ; the margins of the back and wing 

 feathers yellowish white. The young has the feathers of the upper 

 part marked with white crescents, appearing like a young Lark. 



This inhabits Germany ; flies and runs very swiftly, feeding on 

 worms and insects; frequents ponds, and shores of rivers; where it 

 makes the nest in August; is a very shy bird, and difficult to be 

 shot. The flesh is much esteemed. 



This species has been found in England, but very rarely. Mr. 

 Pennant mentions one having been shot near Cambridge, in Sep- 

 tember ; and we have seen a second in a collection at Chelsea. It is 

 said to be met with more plentiful in the northern parts of Europe, 

 as far as Iceland apd Greenland. 



It is recorded by Brisson as inhabiting St. Domingo, but with a 

 slight difference of plumage, having a rufous tinge beneath, the 

 rump a little mottled, and the shafts of the three outer tail feathers 

 white : it is no doubt the same with one found in Georgia, having a 

 dark brown back, the feathers edged with pale tawny; rump dusky 

 brown, the edges paler; upper tail coverts and middle tail feathers 

 plain dark brown ; the others fine pale ash-colour. In the female 

 the plumage is less bright. It has been met with at Nootka Sound, 

 and Capt. Franklin mentions it in his late Arctic Expedition. 



